What Others Wrote

1. Books I read by Joi Chua (singer) 2nd Sept 2005

http://www.joichua.com

I promised my good friend and mentor, Dr Chua Ee Kiam in recommending his most recently published book, Borneo's Tropical Eden - Sabah which won honorable mention in the Independent Publishers Book Awards held in New York earlier this year. And in my opinion, this is his most amazing work to date.

Dr Chua is a passionate man. He is often energetic and believes strongly in life which differentiates him from the rest of the doctors who are often quite burned out from their work.

His love for the environment led him to photography. Through photography, his biggest wish is to spread the message and educate people in loving and treasuring the nature, their environment.

According to his book, the tropical rainforests are one of the oldest in the world, are phenomenally luxuriant and have spawned an abundance of wildlife. He spent numerous (months) going into the rainforests of Sabah day and night, experiencing dangers and near-death incidents just to capture the truest moments of the nature. Many interesting and candid accounts with wildlife are also described in this book.

If you don't know who Dr Chua is, never heard or met him before, his book gives you a sense of vision. His never-say-give-up attitude is truly what I admire and will always remember in my heart. Like the quote in his book “Everything in the world can be changed by passion”, I believe too.

2. Wild people: Chua Ee Kiam by Ria Tan (Wild Singapore)6 Aug 2004

http://www.wildsingapore.com/riablog/people/cek.htm

Dr Chua was a legend to me since I started giving as gifts, his wonderful "Ours to Protect", which to me remains the only book of quality about nature in Singapore.

The first time I met him was at Chek Jawa, before deferment. It was a 4am departure and there was only one other person on the boat with me. I knew it had to be him. I plucked up the courage to talk to him and we spent a very sad morning exploring what we thought were the last days of Chek Jawa.

Since then, our paths crossed often and we spent happier days on Chek Jawa after deferment. He became a key Chek Jawa volunteer guide and trainer. His support and gentle influence was critical in setting up the volunteer system.

He is also the most tenacious of the Beachfleas, outplaying and outlasting all the others - as we trekked Singapore shores seldom seen by others (simply because super low tides happen before dawn).

Dr Chua has made many amazing achievements and yet takes the time to spend quiet moments with newbies like me. Gently guiding and inspiring us in our early explorations of nature and what we can do for it.

His quiet support has been invaluable in bringing the Chek Jawa Guidebook into reality. His encouragement and advice have played a large part in making me the nature volunteer that I am today. I don't think I would be the photographer I am today without his constant cajoling advice.

Having personally experienced his generous nature, it was not surprising to find out that Dr Chua has contributed time (to give talks, articles, to teach and train) as well as substantial funds to a wide range of groups including the Nature Society (Singapore), schools and the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research. It is amazing how he finds the time to do field documentation, write and give talks, on top of all his other work, community and family commitments. He is an inspiration to us all.

3. "A passion for nature" by Nancy Chng
Singapore American (News of the American Community)
published by the American Association) Dec 2002 Vol XXXXVI No. 12

To listen to Chua Ee Kiam, author of Chek Jawa: Discovering Singapore's Biodiversity, talk about Pulau Ubin is to become engrossed in a world of hornbills and starfish, of wild pigs and sea eagles, and to become lost in fascinating tales of exploring the wldlife of Singapore. Yes, Singapore.

Dr Chua, a dentist by profession, spends practically all his spare time in pursuit of nature in Singapore. Dr Chua and many of his nature-loving friends had kept the issue alive in the Forum pages of The Straits Times and posted photographs of Chek Jawa on the web. He credits Jacques Cousteau as his inspiration for combining nature and photography with education, readily acknowledges the dilema of publicizing environmentally fragile areas such as Ubin and Chek Jawa.

He thinks some degree of compromise is workable in land-scarce Singapore but will continue to passionately argue the case to preserve the few nature spots remaining.

4. Honorary Museum Associate on 11 July 2003

RAFFLES MUSUEM OF BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH, DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

Dr Chua Ee Kiam is Honorary Museum Associate of the RMBR (http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/staff_students/staff.htm)

Many of us have been delighted to see Dr Chua Ee Kiam in the field with his camera, in the field, seeking out the most unlikely corners in Singapore and abroad, nurturing young spirits tough enough to endure his pace! Thankfully we have not encountered him in the dentist chair, his actual professional occupation!

He had been a familiar figure in the early days of Chek Jawa and has always responded immediately with well-considered suggestions and feedback for submissions by the museum to the government. Dr Chua documented the images of Chek Jawa in record time, and then went on to publish what is his third book on Singapore's natural heritage in record time. He hurdled through the inherent problems of publication and poured his heart out in the words that pepper the many pages. All proceeds from this publication were donated to the museum for research at Chek Jawa.

Dr Chua has been introducing the public to the delights of the marine life at Chek Jawa since early 2001. Ever willing to humbly learn, he attended the 3rd RMBR Chek Jawa Workshop as a participant, and then used his new found experience to initiate the 4th RMBR Chek Jawa Workshop in which he served as mentor and instructor. Specially tailored for Student Guides from Tanjong Katong Secondary School and Temasek Junior College, an awakening of the student's pride in their heritage was just reward. He remains one of our principal instructors and continues to inspire students both young and old today.  

Dawn carries inspiring signs of a new harmony. In a season in which thoughts swing kindly towards fellow beings, we invite you to meet a few people who care enough to give themselves to a greater whole - our planet.

This vision for a better world comes from very different people, unknowingly pulling together in separate ways towards a common tomorrow.

"Do something for somebody sometime in your life". These words were spoken at a school assembly a long time ago.One child remembered it long after. He grew up to become a dentist, got married and had two kids. But all this did not stop Dr Chua Ee Kiam from looking for other ways to express these words. His latest project is a labour of love - the assembly and writing of a book on nature in Singapore.

In spite of nay-sayers, he decided to give it a go. This side of the book nearly got him into an ugly tangle with a pack of a dozen wild dogs at Marina South, who came at him while he was knee deep in water trying to photograph some ducks. He fended them off with his tripod. It shook him up but it didn't daunt him.

Dr Chua hopes to raise the level of awareness and appreciation of Singaporeans for what their island has.

Where does the energy to keep going come from? "Im pretty obsessive about doing it," says Dr Chua. "I believe if I want to do it, I can do it and will do it."

6. Green Bug bites dentist by Evelyn Khoo
The Sunday Times 11 March 2001

Dr Chua Ee Kiam, who has written a book on Pulau Ubin, roots for conserving Singapore's natural heritage. Both his present and previous books bear testimony to his interest in nature education and conservation.

7. Liveable Cities: Public Expectations and Expressions by Tan Shee Tiong
excerpt from PLANEWS - 2000 Singapore Institute of Planners

...Dentist Dr Chua Ee Kiam decided to record the legacy in Pulau Ubin 7 years ago.  In his own special way, his published book is a photo-essay on the rich eco-system of an island threatened by development. Artist and ex-parliamentarian Ho Ka Leong has painted the idyllic Pulau Ubin for the past 15 years. He wrote to the press and appealed passionately to the government not to sanitise the island. 

These two persons contributed no less than the green groups and vocal professionals in successfully protecting the island in the new Concept Plan 2001 for Singapore.

http://www.sip.org.sg/Planews/main1.htm

8. Focus on Dental Alumni -Story and images by Dr Chay Siew Han

The Dental Mirror (Faculty of Dentistry)Issue No. 10, December 2002

Dr Chua Ee Kiam - the Photographer and author

....He pursued his interest earnestly and decided to share them by compiling the

beautiful shots for books on various aspects of nature.
Dr Chua's success is the result of a person who dares to dream and willing to go the extra mile to make it a reality.

online version: http://www.dentistry.nus.edu.sg/faculty/mirror/mirror11/page2.htm

9. Call for full study of Ubin's wildlife Nature buffs want an in-depth look at the island's ecosystem and the effect of visitors on Chek Jawa's beach by Goh Chin Lian Straits Times - Jan 7 2002

...Dr Chua Ee Kiam, author of several nature books, including Pulau Ubin - Ours To Treasure, said: 'There are so many things hiding in the sand. 'We should look at what these organisms are and their use for the life sciences.' Experts suggested studying the impact of visitors on the area. The idea of boardwalks should also be examined, they said, and their design should blend in with the surroundings. To educate the public about Chek Jawa, Dr Chua suggested setting up a visitor centre to exhibit specimens washed ashore.

10. Dentist helps preserve natural beauty of Singapore by Mia Bjorkenstam

The Eagle Eye (Singapore American School) Dec 18 2002 / 22 No. 3

Initially the book was supposed to be part of a larger publication but there were so many images that Chua decided Chek Jawa deserved more than just a column in a [new] book. "Chek Jawa'" is his third book.

..writer Chua hopes to make the science accessible to the layperson, to help raise awareness and protect the environment. According to science teacher and SAVE club sponsor Martha Began, Chua's talk at the school brought a audience that was much larger than expected. "[In his talks] he promotes awareness among people so that they will appreciate and conserve, " Began said.

11. Naturalist Dentist - Singapore through his eyes by Dr Koh Chay Hui
Articulator, April - Jun 1993

We see our colleagues everyday. We may have known them for a long time. But do you really know the "other side" of our friends, about their hobbies, interests and, perhaps, "hidden talents"? Here are some discoveries!

A pair of mating beetles, an unsuspecting tree frog caught in the death trap of a snake's jaw...These are some of the strange and wondrous creatures captured in the book "Nature In Singapore- Ours To Protect"launched in commeration of Earth Day. Wait a minute! Isn't that "Chua Ee Kiam" written in bold print on the front cover?

For those who do not know, Ee Kiam is the Senior Registrar in the Restorative Department at GDC. He is also an active member of the Nature Society and hence the involvement in a project of this nature.

"The idea of writing a book was first planted whilst I was vetting slides for a slide library of the Nature Society. I saw a wealth of information that was available and felt a need to share it. What a better way to raise the awareness and appreciation of Singaporeans for what their island has!

"Thus began a three-year journey to see my labour of love to fruition. I spent numerous weekends together with other members of the NSS trekking the different habitats by day and night, seeking nocturnal and diurnal species and photographing them in their natural environments. As a prime mover of the project, I had the added responsibilities of writing, sourcing slides, getting them identified by authorities at the NUS and University Malaya and approaching publishers and sponsors.

"This book is sponsored by the two chemical companies in Singapore -Esso & Exxon Chemicals. All the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to the Nature Society. I also hope to drive home the green message of conservation of Singapore's heritage. It is only then all the hard work and time put in by my teammates and myself would be worth the while and who knows, another book may be on its way!"

With Ee Kiam's drive and single- mindedness in every project he tackles, this is definitely a very real possibility.

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